Q&A (pgs54-102)

Summary
Ram starts telling his lawyer Smita about how he knew the third question for 5,000 rupees. Ram and Salim were living in a place called chawl, where they worked at the foundry. New neighbor Mr. Shantaram and his family move in, Shantaram was a scientist, an astronomer since the walls were thin in the chawl, Ram would listen to Shantaram talk about outer space, and when his daughter found a small cat, her father decided to name it Pluto since it was so small. Ram found out that Shantaram was an alcoholic, his drinking got so bad that he threw hot tea at his daughter face scaring her. Gudiya her name, Ram would visit her at the hospital, she would tell him that her father's drinking is what caused him to lose his job, that her father was a great scientist who discovered new stars, but now is going from job to job. Gudiya saw Ram as the brother she never had, when she got back home her father started to rape her. Ram made Gudiya a promise that he would always protect her, when he found out he killed Mr. Shantaram, and quickly got arrested and was sentenced death. Ram ends up running away from everyone even Salim, the third question asked what is the smallest planet, Ram answered correctly Pluto. Ram was put in a Juvenile Home for Boys in Turkman Gate, he became good friends with the boys that were there, people were impressed with his good English. This is where he met Salim Ilyasi, he was the better half of Ram. Salim became a orphan because his family was killed in mob attack since they were Muslims, when Ram found that out he told Salim that his name was Mohammad. They became very good friends because they had a lot of stuff in common, Gupta one of guards tired to rape Salim, but Ram saved him but screaming for help. Salim wants to become famous, they meet a man named Maman who takes children to have them make for him. After living in paradise Ram finds out that Maman is going to blind them so Salim and him run away, Ram ends up working as a servant for Neelima Kumari, and Salim works in the chawl. The forth question for 10,000 rupees, had to do with Maman favorite blind poet, and the god he loved which was Krishna.

Quotation
Ram and Salim really reach the place they would being staying, "One by one the children start trickling in and instantly challenge our definition of hell. I see boys with no eyes...boys with bent and misshapen limbs, dragging themselves to the table...boys with grotesque mouths and twisted fingers" (Swarup 89).

Reaction
When reading this it really did seem that the Ram and Salim were in a safe place, but when I came across these lines I knew that this man Maman was no good at all that all he cared about was the amount money he was getting. It is wrong if a child does not bring 100 rupees by the end of the day, they do not get to eat. I was scared for Ram and Salim because I did not want them to end up like the boys they saw when they first arrived there. It is really sad that a grown man like him could be so heartless and do that to children. The children do not run away because that is the only place that is there home. Salim just wanting to be a good singer for Maman did not believe Ram when he said that Maman would blind them, it goes to show that since Salim is younger than Ram he thinks everyone is a good person, but I was so relieved that Ram convinced Salim to run away. It was sad that Ram had to experience what people like Maman do to children who have no families, but this experience led Ram to know the answer to the forth question. Instead of these people giving money to this poor children, I believe they should found out where these children are coming from to stop this man, but then again people do not mess with gang leader.

Q&A (pgs1-53)

Summary
It all starts off with Ram Mohammad Thomas (main charater) is arressted for answering all 12 questions correct on the new quiz show called "Who Will Win a Billion." They believed that he cheated because there was no way Ram, who did not get an education and barley speaks english could win. After being torture for awhile by Godbole, Ram's lawyer walks in and takes him away, and all she wants to know is the truth and wants to find out how he knew the answers. Ram starts telling his lawyer how he knew the first question. Salim is Ram's best friend, who is obessed with actor Armaan Ali, the first question had to do with Armaan Ali and the first movie he did with Priya Kapoor. Salim told Ram all there was to know about Armaan Ali and would take Ram to the movies to seem Armaan movies, so when Ram was asked that question he knew the answer which was "Betrayal?" and he got it correct. The second question, Ram was an orphan who was dropped off at a Christian orphanage. Being denied by every couple that came, he was taken in by Father Timonthy and was named Joseph but changed it since they were living in India. Ram lived a good life with Father Timonthy. When Ram started to spy on Father Jon and found out that Father Jon was a homosexual , Ram quickly told Father Timonthy and since it was with his son he was angry. Ram woke up the next morning to find Father Timonthy dead and Father Jon too. The second question, which the host asked Ram if he knew what FBI meant and Ram said no, the host asked what does he know and Ram said the order of letters on the cross and so Ram got that question right.

Quotation
This is when Salim finds out that Armaan and Urvashi break up, "If only I could meet Armaan. I want to comfort him. To hold his hand and let him cry on my shoulder...Maybe I could persuade her to come back to Armaan" (Swarup 24).

Reaction
This shows how Salim really looks up to his role model Armaan, that even he would try to get him back with his ex-girlfriend I think that is so cute, how at a young age you think anything is possible in the world. I wonder if Salim would comfort Ram like that if Ram was going through a hard time, and I think Salim would. It was funny how Salim says to Ram that if only he could persuade Urvashi to get back with Armaan, if little did he know that maybe Armaan is not a good boyfriend to Urvashi and maybe is the reason why she broke up with him. Salim would never believe that because he thinks Armaan is a good man. This is relating to the first question Ram is asked on the quiz show, and I find it amazing how he could remeber these little details of things that happen when he was so young. Does Ram still keep in touch with his best friend Salim? Salim is a typical fan of Armaan, well really a number 1 fan because he knows so much about him, I wonder what Salim would do if he met Armaan, and if he did would he comfort him like he said he would?